Firefighter Killed, 2 Hurt In Mo. Standoff

Gunman Opens Fire On Firefighters And Emergency Workers In Suburban St. Louis

(CBS/ AP)  A gunman shot at firefighters responding to a report of a burning pickup truck early Monday, killing one, then opened fire on police, wounding two officers.

Authorities believed the suspect had been holed up in a nearby burning house that eventually collapsed. The status of the suspect wasn't known Monday afternoon, but police were searching the ashes for his remains, as well as any evidence, said St. Louis County police spokeswoman Tracy Panus.

"The suspicion is he's in there," Panus said. "He didn't get away. We have no indication he got out of the house."

The incident began at 5:40 a.m. with a report of a pickup truck fire in Maplewood, a suburban town just southwest of St. Louis. When firefighters arrived, someone began firing shots.

Officials said 22-year-old Ryan Hummert, a firefighter/paramedic from Maplewood, was shot to death as he got off a fire truck.

Two police officers also were injured. One was released after being treated for a gunshot wound to the right shoulder. The other injured officer was taken to another hospital; Panus said he also was expected to survive.

Hummert, the son of former Maplewood Mayor Andy Hummert, began his career in August 2007 after graduating from paramedic training. He graduated from the St. Louis County Fire Academy in March.

"He had been with the fire department for only 10 months but knew it was his calling," fire Chief Terry Merrell said at a brief news conference as he fought back tears. "It's impossible to say in words the emotion and pain we are feeling right now."

Dozens of police officers from Maplewood and nearby communities had surrounded the burning brick bungalow for several hours, rifles pointed at the home as smoke poured from it.

Around 10:30 a.m., the fire suddenly intensified and loud popping sounds could be heard, neighbor Lamira Martin told KSDK-TV.

"Oh my God, the windows are blowing out," Martin told the TV station.

By the afternoon, the house had completely collapsed, Panus said, and police were using heavy equipment to sort through the debris.

Little was known about the suspect, whom neighbors described as quiet and reclusive.

Peter McCreary, a St. Louis County police chaplain, said his mother lives across the street - the burning truck was in her driveway, but it wasn't hers and she didn't know how it got there.

McCreary's mother, 81-year-old Julia McCreary, awoke to what she thought was a backfiring vehicle. It turned out to be gunfire. Soon after, police arrived and took her out a back door, carrying her over a fence to safety.

Julia McCreary told her son that in the two years she lived in the house she had waved to the man, but he never spoke to her.

Sanyoz Rai, who works at a 7-Eleven store nearby, said he heard three or four shots at around 5:45 a.m., then saw a police officer go to the ground holding his shoulder. Rai said he then saw a firefighter on the ground behind the truck. He said the body remained there for an hour before authorities could get close enough to remove it.

Janet Kinkelar said her dog, Sugar, awakened her. As she let the dog out, two armed police officers in her yard yelled, "Get in! Get in!"

Later, officers pounded on doors in the neighborhood, telling people to evacuate immediately.

Another neighbor, Joanna Bedford, was asleep when police arrived.

"They knocked on my door - bam, bam!" she said. "They said, 'Let's go. Go right now!"'

At Maplewood City Hall, the mood was somber, with people crying and hugging each other. Black and purple bunting was placed around City Hall, and a flag flew at half-staff. Cindy Manestar, 42, and her two young sons stopped by to place flowers at the base of the flag pole.

"I can't believe someone would do this," her 9-year-old son, Nathan, said.

The incident was the latest of several high-profile crimes in the St. Louis region this year.

In February, a disgruntled resident of the suburban town of Kirkwood walked into a City Council meeting and killed two police officers, two council members and the public works director before he was gunned down by police. The gunman, Charles "Cookie" Thornton, had a long-running feud with the city over multiple code violations concerning his small contracting company.

In June, an Arkansas couple was beaten to death outside a hotel in Festus. Authorities suspect Nicholas Sheley killed six people in Illinois before killing the couple in Festus. He was captured a short time later in Granite City, Ill.

Last week, two people died inside Jamestown Mall in north St. Louis County. Police say S.A. Carson let the air out of his wife's tires, apparently so she could not get away, then went inside and shot her to death before turning the gun on himself.

And on Saturday, 57-year-old Boris Shotekoff killed his wife and sister and brutally beat his brother-in-law before taking his own life, police said.

The incident was the latest of several high-profile crimes in the St. Louis region this year, according to CBS affiliate KMOV in St. Louis. In February, a disgruntled resident of the suburban town of Kirkwood walked into a City Council meeting and killed two police officers, two council members and the public works director before he was gunned down by police. In June, an Arkansas couple was beaten to death outside a hotel in Festus. Last week, two people died inside Jamestown Mall in north St. Louis County. And on Saturday, 57-year-old Boris Shotekoff killed his wife and sister and brutally beat his brother-in-law before taking his own life, police said.

[keithle1]

It''s always the quiet ones.

[slim1h2o]

This is what happens when people stop caring for one another, or when, one loses all hope.

This is America now-a-days, truly sad.

[whiskyrocker]

St.Louis city is really going downhill. Crime is up and a lot of businesses or leaving.

[stlmopoet]

I''ve lived in St. Louis City and County for almost 20 years and have friends in Maplewood who knew the victims. My condolences to the family of the slain firefighter. //

There have indeed been a number of high profile shootings in the area, but it doesn''t mean St. Louis has suddenly become some wild hell hole. Many parts of the city itself are actually seeing a lot of gentrification and decrease in crime.

I moved out of the city proper in 1993 but moved back in in 2000 and have no regrets.

[ihave4rugratshelp]

st.louis can''t keep the crime rate down, but yet they can come up with millions to build a new stadium for the redbirds. of course, you''re taking a gamble with your life if you go to a game at the new stadium since it is in st.louis......

[hbevis]

the house that the shooter was in caught fire and collapsed on him this afternoon--he didn''''t get out. and people wonder why my family and myself moved out of st.louis--i don''''t.

Posted by emokev at 11:24 PM : Jul 21, 2008

AMEN... I left years ago and would not go back.

[l8c6]

During the great depression Mob violence and infamous individuals such as Bonnie and Clyde made the news. If things continue to worsen in the economy there will be more to come.

[ihave4rugratshelp]

the house that the shooter was in caught fire and collapsed on him this afternoon--he didn''t get out. and people wonder why my family and myself moved out of st.louis--i don''t.

[ssm9451]

My heart goes out to the Hummert family. My prayers and throughts are with you this sad day.
Read more on KMOV.COM or KSDK.COM

[whiskyrocker]

St. Louis is really going down hill fast. Murder rate is shy rocketing.

[sculler1956]

It''s so obvious... if everyone involved had a gun... think of the lives that would have been saved! errrrr....

[carolcape]

I would like to make another comment about the 2 year old child missing. I just want to shake the mother of that child until her teeth rattle, she did something to that baby. She is as cold as stone on pic on the news. Her mother is also covering up for her, because she can''t believe that her darling daughter did something to her granddaughter, well smell the coffee granny, your daughter is a criminal of some sort. She either gave the child away, sold her or killed her. She is full of s--t, she knows where that child is. They want to grill her until she is blue in the face or let her out and put a tracer on her every move. I believe the child is dead, because of her actions and her cold stone look. Put her in a cell with a wire there and see if she talks to an undercover polcewoman, do something to find out where the child is, dead or alive. Prayers for that child and hope that she can be found. How come granny didn''t see her for a month or try to see her own granddaughter, somethings not right.

[carolcape]

These crimes are horrendous,sometimes there are warning signs that people are violent, but it usually is the innocent person that dies at their hands. What moron and pinhead would fire bullets at a EMR worker that was there to save lives. The worst crime that could happen, hopefully the building did take him out of his life that was filled with hate. The devil is surely ready for him. Sympathy and prayers go out to the young man''s family.

[hbevis]

The following is the 2007 winning entry from an annual contest at Texas A&M University calling for the most appropriate definition of a contemporary term. This year''s term was '' Political Correctness ''.

The winner wrote:

''Political Correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority,

[hbevis]

ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE HAPPENING ARE INSANE TO MOST OF US. BUT WITH OUR ECONOMY BEING LIKE IT IS, I EXPECT IT TO GET WORSE. THE PRICE OF FUEL OF ALL KINDS IS OUTRAGEOUS TO SAY THE LEAST. WE ARE LETTING COMPANIES MOVE THEIR EQUIPMENT OUT OF THE COUNTRY AND SET UP WHERE THEY HAVE STARVATION WAGES AND ARE MAKING RECORD PROFITS. THE "NAFTA BILL" HAS BEEN IN EFFECT NOW FOR ALMOST 14 YEARS AND IT IS TEARING OUR COUNTRY APART PIECE BY PIECE.

[hbevis]

WHAT I DON''T UNDERSTAND IS WHY CBS HAS NOT UPDATED THIS STORY BEFORE NOW???

[hbevis]

InMo at 02:49 PM : Jul 21, 2008

OK... I WILL SAY SOMETHING ELSE ON THIS SUBJECT. I USED TO LIVE JUST OUTSIDE OF SAINT LOUIS. THE CRIME RATE IS PRETTY BAD THERE AND IN EAST SAINT LOUIS AS WELL. I LIVE WITHIN EASY DRIVING DISTANCE OF NASHVILLE AND ATLANTA NOW. AND THEY BOTH ARE PRETTY BAD. SO I GUESS, AS YOU SAID, CRIME IS BAD IN A LOT OF BIG CITIES.

[azmka]

Hopefully the shooter was in the house when the roof collasped. I hope he didn''t make a sly getaway during the commotion.

[mike-avelli]

So what happened to the gunman!?!? Nice reporting there.....

[deacon20081]

My youngest son is a rookie Fire Fighter/EMT. The individual that killed that young man and shot the cop hopefully burned along with the house.
There is no excuse for the shooter to lay in wait to kill Emergency Workers doing their jobs.
Gods Peace to the Family who has so senselessly lost their son.